Amusement device



A. HULSMANN.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17; 1921.

1,421,238. Patented June 27, 1922.

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2 n W 0 p H H 0 .VU m M mm fl stars if F t '1 AT/IUSEMENT- DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2?, 1922.

Application filed June 17, 1921 Serial'No. 473,382.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANTON HULsMaNN, a citizen of Germany, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements inAmusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement de vices and has particular reference to. a device designed for entertainment and exerciseand comprises a main frame upon which are supporteda plurality of vert-ical standardsholding a series ofair balloons adapted to be inflatedby the blowing action of participants engaged in the blowing contest, whereby the first participant accomplishing the bursting of one of the balloons in the shortest time is acclaimed the-victor over the other competitors.

This device has various novel detailstending to simplicity and cheapness of construction, which are desirable-in an amusement device. Furthermore, the construction is such that the device can be produced at a modest cost, is highly attractive in appearance and entertaining, positive in action, and extremely sanitary.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the courseof the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which'like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the i,

same, showing the air outlet port closed,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device with the air outlet port open,

Fig-1.4: is a sectional view of the rubber tubing and its mouth piece, forming part of this invention, 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the control mechanism and its associated .parts,

letter A designates a table or conventional support, upon which is mounted a frame designated as a whole by the numeral 8, which frame includes a top wall 9, a front side wall 10 and end sills 11 and 12 respectively; Preferably secured to the top wall; 9 is a longitudinally extending strip 13 which serves. as a siip port anduponwhich arev re ceived a plurality of vertical standards 14;. Each standard is provided with a central bore 15 in whichis receiveda lengthof pipe Detachably mounted on the upper eX- .tremit'y of the pipe 16' is a nipple'17, wh ile .secured to the lower extremity of the pipe 16 is the upperend of; a T 18, and threaded to the lower end of the T 18 is a short pipe 19. Formed in the strip 13 andthe top wall 9 are openings'20 through which the. short pipe 19 extends. For the purpose of securing the short pipe'beneath the lower surface of thewall '9 I have provided a nut 21 and the usual -washer 21; Positioned parallel was topwall 9, and'secured in the inlet openings 22 of the T 18 is a tube 28, This tube is adapted to extend through the base part of the. vertical standard 1% and connected thereto at its freeendthe end of a flexible tubing 24 preferably made of soft rubber. As shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 4; each of thetubes is provided with a sanitarymouth piece 25 preferably made of straw or paper and so positioned on the end of the tubing that it can be readily detached ,or applied thereto.

'VVhile I have described the construction of but one of the standards, it is to be understood that the other standards and associated parts are of like construction and .need not be specifically described. On each nipple 17 an. air balloon B is detachably secured, and I prefer to make these balloons of various" colors.

From a consideration of the construction of the standards andthe means for inflating-the balloon, it will be apparent that the extremities of a cross bar 26. This cross bar is positioned parallel to the top wall 9 and is freely movable in the respective end sills upon manual movement of a control handle 27. As shown toadvantage in Figure 5 the control handle is inserted in the opening 28 of a second T 29 which embraces the cross bar 26 and is fixed thereto and rotatable therewith. Di osed in parallel relation to the control handle 27, area plurality of blocks 30 and corresponding in number to the number of vertical standards employed; Each of these blocks 30is provided with an upper level surface, upon which surface adjacent its inner end is suitably secured a cushion element 31 preferably made of rubber, while mounted in the side wall 32 of each block is a stop 33. In close proximity to the side wall 32 of each block 30 and secured to and rotatable with the cross bar 26, is a flanged collar 34. Formed on the collar 34 is a lifting finger 35 which is adapted to contact with the stop 33. As shown to advantage in Figures 2 and 3 it will be apparent that downward movement of the handle 27 by the operator will cause the finger 35 to engage the stop 33 and thus the inner end of the block 30 will be raised while the outer end upon which the cushion element is disposed will be lowered. When the block 30 is in this position it will be obvious that air entering the tube 24 through the blowing action of the participant, will pass into the standard and be expelled from the pipe 19. On the other hand when it is desired to direct air into the pipe 13 the control arm is moved, upwardly, by the operator, and the cushion block engages the lower extremity of the pipe 19 and the air is directed through the pipe 16 to the balloon secured on the end of the standard.

In order to positively assure the disengagement of the cushion element from the "end of the pipe 19, I propose to suitably secure a counter weight (not shown) on the lower end of the controlarm. When the operator wishes the participant to start the counter weight will be lifted by upward movement of the control arm 27 The operation ofmy device is as follows;- i y The participants-engaging in the contest assemble on the outside of the frame 8, and each participant either selects a tube to be either designated by a certain numeral, or selects a certain color of balloon that he proposes to inflate. The operator then announces that the contest is started and immediately throws the control arm 27 from the position shown to advantage in Figure 1 to theposition shown toadvantage in Figure 2.

It will be apparent that the inflow of air will be forced upwardly through the pipe 16 and will cause the air balloon mounted thereon to be inflated. Since the lung power of all individuals is not the same it will be obvious that one of the balloons will be bursted sooner than the remainder, and accordingly, upon the bursting of one of the balloons the victor in the contest will be recognized. Immediately after the bursting of a balloon occurs the operator releases the arm 27 and by virtue of the counter weight causing the downward movement of the control arm the cushion element 31 will be disengaged from the end of the pipe 19 and the air will pass through the latter. Thus there will be a saving in the number of balloons employed for it will be apparent that only one balloon will be bursted. Another balloon is then substituted for the bursted one andthe game can begin again. I

While I have shown a certain number of standards and balloons,it is to be understood that a plurality of standards can be employed and it is to be further understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim V 1. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting frame, having end sills and a top board, a plurality of standards mounted on said frame, each of said standards being provided with a central bore and having an air balloon mounted thereon, a sectional pipe secured in said bore a T element for holding the sections in a fixed position, means connected to said T element and adapted to supply air to said pipe, and mechanism positioned within said frame and operablefrom the'outside thereof for controlling the supply of air to said pipe, said mechanism including a cross bar journaled in the sills of said frame, blocks secured to said cross bar, and a control arm connected to said cross bar andadapted to actuate the same.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame having vertical tubular standards mounted thereon adapted to support a plurality of air balloons, of means for conveying a supply of air to said standards, mechanism connected to said frame for controlling the supply of air entering and exhausting from said standards, said mechanism including a cross bar journaled in the sills of said frame, blocks secured to said cross bar, cushion elements secured on the upper surfaces of said blocks, and a control, arm connected to said cross bar, whereby upon its actuation said cushion elements are thrown into and out of engagement with the lower extremities of said standards.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame having verti' cal tubular standards mounted thereon adapted to support a plurality of air halloons, of means for conveying a supply of air to said standards, mechanism connected to said frame for controlling the supply of air entering and exhausting from said standards, said mechanism including a cross bar journaled in the sills of said frame, blocks secured to said cross bar, cushion elements secured on the upper surfaces of said'hlocks, a control arm connected to said cross bar, and means positioned on said cross bar and said blocks, whereby upon the actuation of said control arm the cushion elements on said blocks are disengaged from the lower extremities of said standards.

In testimony whereof ahix signature.

ANTON HULSMANN. 

